Lifting jack



M- B. LUCKER LIFTING JACK Jan. 17, 1956 Filed Sept. 18, 1952 A INVENTOR. /%@7 d Z ZZ4a/%P United States Patent LIFTING JACK Millard B. Lucker, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company, St. Joseph, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application September 18, 1952, Serial No. 310,164

9 Claims. (Cl. 254-1) The present invention relates to lifting jacks, and more particularly to automobile bumper jacks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lifting jack of the above described type with a novel foot member for supporting an upstanding jack strut, which foot member may be quickly and inexpensively manufactured from sheet metal.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel sheet metal foot member for supporting an upstanding jack, which foot member supports the jack in a manner to obtain the maximum resistance to forwardly tipping of the jack while at the same time requiring a minimum amount of material for the foot member.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel construction for a lifting jack foot member of the above described type, whereby the foot member is made very strong and rigid and also has great resistance to any tendency of the foot member to slip or slide on a supporting surface, such as the ground.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a lifting jack, embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the novel jack supporting foot member of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical cross section taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken along line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken along line 5--5 in Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross section similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross section similar to Fig. 5, but showing the embodiment of Fig. .6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numeral throughout the various figures, Fig. 1 shows a jack 10, embodying the novel features of this invention. The jack 10 includes a foot member 12 supporting an upstanding U-shaped strut 14. A screw rod 16 is disposed within the strut 14 and is pendantly supported therein by means of a thimble 18 which is interconnected with the screw rod by an end portion 20 of an actuating handle member 22. The end portion 20 extends through aligned openings in the thimble and the rod so that the thimble moves with the rod. The bottom edge of the thimble 18 bears against a thrust bearing 24 which is mounted on top to the strut 14. A nut 26 threadedly engages the screw rod 16 and moves up or down upon the rotation of the rod. The nut 26 is provided with a projection 28 extending through the open side of the U-shaped strut for supporting a load engaging and lifting member 30.

The foot 12 comprises a base member 32 and a socket member 34. Preferably, both of these members are constructed from sheet steel. The base member '32 may be conveniently made from a flat blank which is formed to provide relatively broad flat sections 36 adapted to rest on a supporting surface. The relatively great area of the flat sections 36 make the foot member particularly adapted for use where the supporting surface, such as a shoulder along the sides of highways, is soft, since the broad flat surfaces will tend to prevent the foot from sinking intothe ground.

A mid portion of the base member 32 is stamped or otherwise drawn to provide an upstanding generally frus'to-conical section having side walls 38 and a substantially flat top 'wall 40. The mid portion of the wall 40 is deformed downwardly as at 42 to form a .well 44 having a substantially flat bottom 46, which well is adapted to receive and support the lower end of the U- shaped strut 14. It should be noted that the frustoconical section is positioned to locate the center of the well 44 closer to the rear edge of the base member 32 than the front edge. Thus, the front or left end of the base member 32, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, is longer than the rear end. By this structure, the greatest length of the base member 32 is disposed to resist forward tilting of the jack. Since there is a greater tendency for a jack to tilt forwardly than rearwardly when lifting an automobile, the over-all length of the base member 32 may be reduced while still providing a support which is as effective to prevent tilting as a base member having a greater over-all length, but which supports the jack in the middle. Thus, this construction makes it possible to effect a substantial saving inmaterial, thereby reducing the cost of the foot member.

In order to increase the rigidity of the base member 32, ribs or beads 48 and 50 are formed adjacent to and preferably parallel to the side edges of the base member. It should be noted that the ribs 48 and 50 extend from front to back of the base member 38, and since, as described above, the usual tendency is for the jack to tip forwardly, it has been found that it is not necessary to provide ribs extending transversely of the base member along the front and rear edges. Additional rigidifying ribs 52, 54, 56 and 58 are formed in the base member 32 to increase the rigidity of the mid portion thereof and to provide lateral support for the frustoconical wall 38. The ribs 52 and 54 have their outer ends merging respectively with the front and rear ends of the rib 48. From these points of junction, the ribs 52 and 54 extend radially inwardly until they join with the frusto-conical wall 38, as shown best in Fig. 2. The amount which the ribs 52 and 54 are drawn increases from their outer ends toward their junction with the frusto-conical wall 38; hence, the ribs 52 and 54 are inclined upwardly until they reach substantially the full height of the wall 38 in order to provide full support for the wall. The ribs 56 and 58, which join with the rib 50, need not be described in detail since they are constructed and arranged in the same manner as the ribs 54 and 52, respectively. By this structure and arrangement of the rigidifyingribs', all of the drawn portions of the base member 32 are interconnected, whereby a very strong and rigid construction is obtained. It should also be noted that the ribs 48 and 50 and the outer ends of the ribs 52, 54, 56, and 58 are spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the base member 32. Thus, the lines of junction between the ribs and the flat sections 36 of the base member 32 provide edges, such as .edges 60, 62, 64, and 66 (see Fig. 3), which are adapted-to engage the ground or other jack supporting surface to prevent the .base member 32 from slipping. V

The socket member 34v is preferably constructed from a single strip of sheet metal. The strip is bentto provide an end section 68, and a pair ofupright'side: sections 70 and 72. The free ends of the strip are bent inwardly until their edges are adjacent one another to provide complementary end sections 74 and 76. The socket member 34 rests on the fiat surface 40 of the base member 32 and is preferably secured thereto by means of welds 78. It should be noted that the socket member 34 is disposed with its complementary end sections 74 and 76 resting on the base member. By this arrangement, the welds 78 serve not only to secure the socket member to the base member, but also to hold the end sections 74 and 76 together.

The end section 68 and the end sections 74 and 76 are cut out to provide apertures 80 and 82, which are shaped to removably receive the lower end of the strut 14 of the jack. In this case, the apertures 80 and 82 have a shape to fit closely the U-shape of the strut. The apertures 80 and 82 are generally aligned with each other and with the well 44 of the base member 32, whereby the strut 14 may be removably inserted through the apertures so that it rests on the bottom 46 of the well 44. Since, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end of the strut 14 extends below the end sections 74 and 76 of the socket member, any danger of the strut 14 accidently slipping out of the aperture 82 is eliminated.

It should be noted, that the apertures 80 and 82 are not in true vertical or axial alignment, but on the contrary, the lower aperture 82 is displaced or laterally offset a slight amount forwardly of the aperture 80, as best shown in Fig. 5. Because of this offset relationship between the apertures, the jack strut 14 is supported in a position which is inclined rearwardly from the vertical. This rearwardly inclined position has been found to be very effective in resisting the usual tendency of the jack to tip forwardly when being used to raise an automobile. Preferably, the apertures 80 and 82 are offset a sufficient amount so that the strut 14 is inclined two or three degrees from the vertical.

It should also be noted that the socket member 34 is disposed so that the adjacent terminal edges of its complementary end sections 74 and 76 are located in a plane extending from front to back of the base member 32. Since the aperture 82 is formed by cutting substantially equal recesses from the sections 74 and 76, any tendency for the jack strut 14 to tip either forwardly or rearwardly is resisted with equal force by both of the sections 74 and 76.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the foot comprises a base member 32 which is made of sheet metal and formed in exactly the same manner as the foot member 32 shown in Figs. 1 through 5. This foot also in cludes a socket member 90 which is substantially identical to the socket member 34, as indicated by the like numerals applied to the corresponding parts. However, in this embodiment, the upper end section 68 and the lower end sections 74 and 76 are provided with aligned recesses, as indicated at 92 and 94. As clearly indicated in Fig. 7, the recesses 92 and 94 are formed at the fronts of the apertures 80 and 82. The recesses 92 and 94 are adapted to receive a flat spring 96, which spring at its upper end extends forwardly over the end section 68 of the socket, as indicated at 98. The portion 98 of the spring terminates in a hook portion 100, which hooks under the end section 68 of the socket to retain the spring in position. The other end of the spring is also provided with a forwardly extending portion 102 which extends under the end sections 74 and 76 and terminates in an upwardly directed hook portion 104 which. engages the forward edges of these last mentioned end sections of the socket. In order to allow the spring to pass between the base member 32 and the socket member, it should be noted that the socket member is so proportioned that a space or slot 106 is provided between the forward edges of the end sections 74 and 76 of the socket and the annu- Iar flat wall section 40 of the base member.

With the above construction, it is seen that the ends of the spring 96 are retained a fixed distance apart by engagement of the upper end with the end section 68 of the socket and by the lower end 102 bearing against the base member 32. This normally causes the straight fiat section of the spring 96 between the upper and lower end sections of the socket to bow in a direction rearwardly of the socket member. Thus, when the strut 14 of the jack is inserted through the apertures of the socket member, the spring 96 is continuously urged against the strut to retain the strut frictionally within the socket. By this structure, the jack may be picked up for movement to any desired position without the foot falling off.

Another feature of the modified embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 lies in the provision of the inwardly deformed or crimped beads 108 and 110 which are clearly shown in Fig. 7. It should be noted that these strengthening beads are formed at the junction of the upper end section 68 and the upstanding side sections 70 and 72. It should be further noted that these beads are disposed in general alignment with the front edge of the aperture 80.

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention provides a novel lifting jack having a detachable foot member which may be quickly and inexpensively manufactured from sheet materials. Moreover, the novel construction provides a relatively lightweight foot member which is very strong and rigid, which is extremely resistant to any tendency to slip on a support surface or to any tendency of the jack to tip over when being used to lift an automobile.

While the preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a base member adapted to rest on a support surface, means providing a pair of plate members, one of said plate members being mounted on said base member. means mounting the other of said plate members spaced from said one plate member and said base member, said plate members having apertures therein for receiving and supporting an upstanding jack strut, said apertures being laterally offset from one another to support said strut at an angle from the vertical toward the rear edge of said base member whereby to provide greater resistance to forward tilting of the jack.

2. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a generally flat base member having front and rear ends and adapted to rest on a support surface, said flat base member having a raised section, said raised section having a mid portion thereof depressed for receiving the lower end of an upstanding jack strut, means providing a pair of plate members, one of said plate members being mounted on said base member overlying said depressed mid-portion, means mounting the other of said plate'members spaced from and overlying said one plate member and overlying said depressed portion, said plate members having apertures therein adapted to receive a jack strut inserted therethrough and into said depressed portion, rigidifying ribs on said base member and extending from adjacent the front edge thereof toward the rear edge and other rigidifying ribs on said base member, said last mentioned ribs extending between and merging with said first mentioned ribs and said raised section.

3. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a generally flat base member having front and rear edges and adapted to rest on a support surface, said base member having a raised section, said raised section having a depressed mid portion located farther from the front edge of the base member than the rear edge, means pro viding a pair of plate members, one of said plate members being mounted on said base member and disposed above said depressed-portion, "side plates formed on said one plate member and extending upwardly therefrom and supporting the other of said plate members spaced from said one plate member, said plate members having apertures therein adapted to receive an upstanding jack strut inserted therethrough and into said depressed portion, the aperture in the lower plate member of said pair being oifset forwardly of the aperture in the upper plate member, whereby a jack strut inserted through said apertures will be supported in a position inclined rearwardly from the vertical, rigidifying ribs on said base member and extending from adjacent the front edge thereof toward the rear edge, and other rigidifying ribs on said base member and connecting said first mentioned ribs and said raised section.

4. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a base member having a raised section, said raised section having a depressed mid portion, means providing a pair of plate members having apertures therein, one of said plate members being mounted on said base member and overlying said depressed mid-portion, means mounting the other of said plate members spaced from and overlying said one plate member, the apertures in said plate members being in substantially vertical alignment with said depressed portion, said apertures being adapted to receive the lower end of an upstanding jack strut inserted therethrough and into said depressed portion, and spring means extending between said plate members through the apertures therein for frictionally retaining said strut within said apertures.

5. A removable foot, as defined in claim 4, wherein said spring means comprises a fiat spring having one end fixed to the upper plate member and having its lower end held at a constant distance from said upper end and having a mid portion continuously biased toward a jack strut when inserted through said apertures.

6. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a base member adapted to rest on a support surface, a socket means secured to said base means, said socket member providing a pair of vertically spaced plate members having generally aligned apertures therein and a pair of generally upstanding side members connecting marginal edges of said plate members and holding said plate members in spaced relationship, and an inwardly directed bead disposed at the junction of at least one of said side members and the upper plate member of said vertically spaced plate members.

7. A removable foot for a lifting jack, as defined in claim 6, wherein said inwardly directed bead extends into said upper plate member and said one side member, said head being disposed in general alignment with a front portion of the aperture in said upper plate member.

8. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a generally fiat base member substantially rectangularly shaped, the shorter sides of the base member being the front and rear edges, the flat portion of the base member being adapted to rest on a support surface, a substantially frusto-conical raised section formed on said base member closer to the rear edge than the front edge thereof, said raised section having a depressed mid portion, a reinforcing rib extending from said raised section substantially to each corner of said base member and tapering from said raised section toward each corner, other reinforcing ribs positioned on each of the longer sides of said base member and interconnecting said first mentioned ribs in pairs, and meansproviding a pair of plate members, one of said plate members being mounted on said base member and overlying said depressed mid portion, means mounted on said one plate member and supporting the other plate member in vertical spaced relationship above said one plate member, said plate members having apertures therein adapted to receive an upstanding jack strut inserted therethrough and into said depressed mid portion.

9. A removable foot for a lifting jack, comprising a generally flat base member substantially rectangularly shaped, the shorter sides of the base member being the front and rear edges, the flat portion of the base member being adapted to rest on a support surface, a substantially frusto-conical raised section formed on said base member closer to the rear edge than the front edge thereof, said raised section having a depressed mid portion, a reinforcing rib extending from said raised section substantially to each corner of said base member and tapering from said raised section toward each corner,

other reinforcing ribs positioned on each of the longer sides of said base member and interconnecting said first mentioned ribs in pairs, means providing a first plate member having an aperture therein and mounted on said raised section, side members formed on the edges of said first plate member and disposed substantially parallel to the longer sides of said base member, and a second plate member mounted on said side members and spaced above said first plate member, said second plate member having an aperture therein cooperating with the aperture in said first plate member and adapted to receive an upstanding jack strut inserted therethrough and into said depressed mid portion, the aperture in the first plate member being offset forwardly of the aperture in the upper second plate member, whereby a jack strut inserted through said apertures will be supported in a predetermined position inclined rearwardly from the vertical.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,095 Horni May 12, 1931 2,054,568 Beach Sept. 15, 1936 2,125,493 Foster Aug. 2, ,1938 2,243,739 Oberhofiken May 27, 1941 2,400,235 Johnson May 14, 1946 2,609,178 Kearful et a1. Sept. 2, 1952 

